Pro Sports

Freeman runs for 116 yards as Falcons edge Titans 10-7

Posted October 25, 2015 7:00 am

By TERESA M. WALKER

Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, center, congratulates nose tackle Jonathan Babineaux (95) after a play against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones wants the Falcons to snap out of their offensive funk, even if they found a way to squeeze out an ugly win.

Matt Ryan threw for 251 yards and a touchdown pass, and Devonta Freeman ran for 116 yards as the Falcons held off the Tennessee Titans 10-7 Sunday.

The Falcons (6-1) bounced back from their first loss this season by grinding out a road win and overcoming two interceptions. Freeman notched his third consecutive game with at least 100 yards, and Atlanta outgained Tennessee 378-256 in squeaking out the win.

"At the end of the day, a win's a win," Ryan said. "When you go on the road in this league and get it done ... that's rewarding."

Still, Jones knows the Falcons can play better.

"We've got to fix what we've got going on," Jones said. "We came out here to get a 'W' and we got the 'W' and it's on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. ... It wasn't pretty, but it just shows that we're going to fight to the end."

The banged-up Titans (1-5) lost their fifth straight overall and ninth consecutive on their home field dating back to last season. They played without rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota and two starters in their secondary before losing two more starters.

Their defense kept them close, giving Tennessee plenty of chances needing only a field goal to force overtime. But Zach Mettenberger was intercepted by undrafted rookie Falcons safety Robenson Therezie with 1:31 left to seal Atlanta's victory.

"We can't make mistakes there," Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

The Falcons had plenty of chances to keep this from being close late.

Atlanta coach Dan Quinn thought the Falcons scored when Ryan hit Julio Jones with a 3-yard pass, but officials ruled the receiver short of the goal line. Not even Quinn's challenge helped as officials ruled Jones down 6 inches outside the end zone after he tried sticking the ball past the pylon. Quinn said he got no explanation.

The Titans stopped Atlanta fullback Patrick DiMarco on third down, then Titans linebacker Avery Williamson intercepted Ryan's pass intended for Jacob Tamme in the end zone with 6:30 left.

Tennessee turned it over on downs with 3:30 left.

Atlanta kicker Matt Bryant then pushed a 47-yard field goal wide right with 2:28, giving Tennessee one final chance. Instead, the Titans have lost three games in this skid by a combined six points.

Ryan became the fifth-fastest quarterback to throw for 30,000 yards in his career. He came in needing 83 yards passing to reach that mark in his 117th game, which he got with a 2-yard pass to Jones midway through the second quarter. Only Dan Marino (114), Kurt Warner (114), Peyton Manning (115) and Aaron Rodgers (116) were faster.

The Titans intercepted Ryan in the second quarter when linebacker David Bass tipped the ball into the air and grabbed it. Mettenberger found Kendall Wright for a 19-yard touchdown on the next play and a 7-0 lead in the second quarter for the Titans' only points of the game.

The Titans played without cornerback Perrish Cox (hamstring) and safety Michael Griffin (left knee), and cornerback Jason McCourty left early in the third quarter with a sore hamstring. They lost their second center in as many games at halftime when rookie Andy Gallik was sidelined by a concussion. That forced Joe Looney, signed Tuesday, onto the field.

Atlanta took control in the third quarter, outgaining the Titans 134-35. Ryan finished off an 88-play drive by tossing an 8-yard TD pass to Jones, giving the Falcons their first lead of the game at 10-7 late in the quarter.

Notes: Freeman is the first Falcons running back to rush for 100 yards or more in three straight games since 2009. Atlanta now has rushed for 100 yards or better in five straight games for the first time since 2011. ... Neither Falcons WR Leonard Hankerson (hamstring) nor Falcons S William Moore played in the second half with an injured groin.

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Online:

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) scores a touchdown on an 8-yard pass reception against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones celebrates after scoring a touchdown on an 8-yard reception against the Tennessee Titans in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright (13) is congratulated by quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) after Wright scored a touchdown on a 19-yard reception against the Atlanta Falcons in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright (13) scores a touchdown on a 19-yard pass reception ahead of Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) can't catch a pass in the end zone as he is defended by Tennessee Titans safety Daimion Stafford (39) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter can't hang onto a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/James Kenney) The Associated Press

Atlanta Falcons free safety Robenson Therezie (27) runs back a pass interception to stop the final drive of the Tennessee Titans as quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrates on the sideline in the final minutes of the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. Atlanta won 10-7. (AP Photo/Weston Kenney) The Associated Press

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